BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                  SB 436
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   July 3, 2013

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                  Mike Gatto, Chair

                    SB 436 (Jackson) - As Amended:  April 3, 2013 

          Policy Committee:                             Natural  
          ResourcesVote:6-3

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          Yes    Reimbursable:              No

           SUMMARY  

          This bill clarifies and expands specified California  
          Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) notice procedures, and  
          clarifies public meeting requirements for scoping meetings  
          called pursuant to CEQA.   Specifically, this bill: 

          1)Clarifies that scoping meetings, required to be held by lead  
            agencies for certain highway projects and other projects of  
            statewide, regional, or areawide significance, are public  
            meetings.

          2)Requires a lead agency to provide specified notices, including  
            preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) or  
            negative declaration, to:

               a)     Responsible and trustee agencies.

               b)     The project applicant and the applicant's duly  
                 authorized agent.

               c)     The State Clearinghouse.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Negligible state costs.
           
          COMMENTS
           
           1)Purpose and Background.   According to the author, this bill  
            addresses concerns regarding late comments on CEQA  
            environmental documents by increasing and clarifying the  








                                                                 SB 436
                                                                  Page  2

            parties and entities who must receive public notice regarding  
            the comment periods and public hearings on proposed projects. 

            This bill specifically requires lead agencies to notify  
            responsible and trustee agencies, third-party project  
            applicants, and the State Clearinghouse.  For the first two,  
            the bill specifically permits electronic mail notification. 

            CEQA requires a lead agency with the principal responsibility  
            for carrying out or approving a proposed project to prepare a  
            negative declaration, mitigated negative declaration, or  
            environmental impact report (EIR) unless the project is  
            exempt.  Lead agencies are required to make these and other  
            documents, including notices available to the public.  Lead  
            agencies are also required to hold at least one scoping  
            meeting for proposed projects of statewide, regional, or  
            area-wide significance.   This bill clarifies that scoping  
            meetings are open to the public.



           Analysis Prepared by  :    Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916)  
          319-2081